Screw nut assembly of linear actuation device
A screw nut assembly of a linear actuation device, having a screw, a main screw nut and a safety screw nut is disclosed. The main screw nut and the safety screw nut engaged with the screw are operative to displace linearly along an axis of the screw. The safety screw nut includes an exterior surface and the main screw nut includes a receiving portion for receiving the safety screw nut therein. The receiving portion includes an interior surface recessed with at least one slot and a spring disposed within the slot, such that the safety screw nut is inserted into the receiving portion by a resilient force exerted by the spring.
The present invention relates to a screw nut assembly of a linear actuation device, and more particular, to a screw nut assembly of which the main screw nut can be ejected by spring force when the threads thereof are worn out.
Linear actuation device uses motors, gears and lever linkage for driving a guide screw, so as to provide linear extension and retraction movements of an interior tube. Such device has been commonly applied to elevate or lower a sickbed or other devices.
The screw of the typical linear actuation device uses a screw nut threaded with the screw to perform movements of the interior tube. To reduce the noise caused by friction between the screw nut and the screw, plastic material has been used to fabricate the screw nut. However, as the screw is typically fabricated from metal, the threads formed on the screw nut are easily abraded. Therefore, the screw nut becomes inoperative to carry the load, such that the linear actuation device cannot operate normally. Further, the interior will suddenly sink without the support of the screw nut.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a screw nut assembly of a linear actuation device. The screw nut assembly includes a main screw nut and a safety screw engaged with each other by spring force. When the threads of the main screw are worn out, the main screw nut is ejected by spring force, and the safety screw nut replaces the main screw nut to carry the load applied on the main screw. Therefore, the damage of the linear actuation device is prevented.
The screw nut assembly of a linear actuation device provided by the present invention comprises a screw, a main screw nut and a safety screw nut. The main screw nut and the safety screw nut engaged with the screw are operative to displace linearly along an axis of the screw. The safety screw nut includes an exterior surface and the main screw nut includes a receiving portion for receiving the safety screw nut therein. The receiving portion includes an interior surface recessed with at least one slot and a spring disposed within the slot, such that the safety screw nut is inserted into the receiving portion by a resilient force exerted by the spring.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThese, as well as other features of the present invention, will become apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein:
As shown in
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The main screw nut 13 includes one threaded distal end, and one proximal end serving as a receiving part 131 for receiving the safety screw nut 14 therein. The receiving part 131 has a flange 130 and the interior sidewall of the receiving part 131 is recessed with two opposing elongate slots 132 for receiving a pair of springs 17 therein. The opposing ends of each slot 132 include a pair of circular slots 133. Each of the spring 17 includes a flat elongate portion 170, two positioning portions 171 at two opposing ends of the flat elongate portion 170 and a resilient portion 172 protruding inwardly from the middle of the flat elongate portion 170. The positioning portions 171 are inserted into the circular slots 133, while the flat elongate portions 170 lie on the sidewall of the elongate slots 132. The resilient portions 171 are aligned with each other and curved into a semi-circular shape. The safety screw nut 14 includes two opposing grooves 141 recessed from the exterior surface 140. Preferably, the grooves 141 are in circular shape to receive the resilient portions 171. Therefore, by frictionally fitting the exterior surface 140 between the springs 17, the safety screw nut 14 is engaged within the main screw nut 13 and secured by the resilient force exerted by the springs 17.
Thereby, a screw nut assembly for an actuation device is obtained.
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This disclosure provides exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The scope of this disclosure is not limited by these exemplary embodiments. Numerous variations, whether explicitly provided for by the specification or implied by the specification, such as variations in shape, structure, dimension, type of material or manufacturing process may be implemented by one of skill in the art in view of this disclosure.
Claims
1. A screw nut assembly for an actuation device which comprises a screw, comprising a main screw nut and a safety screw nut engaged with the screw, for synchronously driving the screw to perform axial linear displacement,
- wherein the safety screw nut includes an exterior surface and the main screw nut includes a receiving portion for receiving the safety screw nut therein, the receiving portion includes an interior surface recessed with at least one slot and a spring disposed within the slot, such that the safety screw nut is inserted into the receiving portion by a resilient force exerted by the spring.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the main screw nut is fabricated from plastic material and the safety screw nut is fabricated from metal.
3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the spring includes two terminals and the slot is recessed with two grooves to receive the terminals therein.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 14, 2003
Publication Date: May 19, 2005
Patent Grant number: 7152496
Inventors: Chih Chen (Sindian City), Chih Chang (Sindian City), Ching Chan (Sindian City), Ming Ho (Sindian City)
Application Number: 10/712,102